Before I get into the technical stuff with this issue's golf lesson, I would like to start with a brief introduction. The lesson will be focused on players with medium or high handicaps and creating a practice method, following some guidelines, by establishing a routine that enables golfers to take more advantage of their practice hours in order to lower results faster on the course – and consequently their handicap.
Focusing on this type of player is aimed at helping them understand that – if they are able to create their own practice method, diverting their concentration to key points of the swing and setting aside constant concern about how to strike the ball – they will be able to achieve technical evolution quicker and their shots will be more effective.
In short, this lesson will help golfers lower their handicap.
CHECK POINTS
1.- THE GRIP
2.- THE STANCE
3.- ANGLES
4.- SPEED AND SWING COMPLETION
The key to having a good method is order. Dedicate a minimum amount of time to each of these points.
If you are going to practise, don’t dedicate all your time to hitting balls. Create your own routine.
THE FIFTH FACTOR
THE CLUBS YOU USE
As you can see, I have listed four factors related to the swing, which I am going to explain more about, and the last one relates to an external element – the club you use – which will warrant an entire article where I can offer advice on what type of equipment to use depending on your level of play.
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1. Hands remain between the two tapes
2. Place a mark where the left-hand thumb fits into the glove
3. Cover the mark on the glove by turning your left hand
PRACTICE THESE ASPECTS
1.- THE GRIP
This represents the direct contact of your body with the club, and it is well known that the face of the club will end up pointing to one place or another depending on your grip (strong, neutral or weak). But we are not going to have a grip lesson in this issue, and neither am I going to explain the effect on the ball. In this lesson I want to offer advice and help in relation to your practice sessions.
My first piece of advice: I always tell students that a straight ball does not exist and that each player has to play their natural stroke. In the case of players with a medium or high handicap (which is what we are focusing on in this lesson), I recommend that the natural shot be a draw (for a right-handed player, from right to left), so work on strengthening your grip (press the left hand a little).
Holding the Grip
We rarely talk about the "space" that our hands should occupy in holding on to the club. Place two tapes, one above and one below, leaving two fingers to the end of the grip on both sides, and maintain your hands within those limits. This will help you have a long and stiff grip, while also helping your wrists move better.
Mark your Glove with a Marker
I mentioned before that I am in favour of encouraging beginners and medium-handicap players to have a strong grip. To achieve this, draw a small mark on the glove where your left left thumb fits and try to cover the mark with your right hand before starting the swing. Doing this will help you achieve a more solid impact.
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1. Posture with very upright back
2. Posture with very inclined back
3. Postures with correct angles – try to maintain these on the upswing
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2.-THE STANCE
I have written in previous lessons about the stance but, as I noted above, this lesson is about creating your own working method and to that end you have to know what areas to pay attention to.
I am referring to practice on the driving range, and therefore you will be able to use tools (clubs and tees, among others) that will be of great help, especially if you are alone, in order to have key reference points.
The most common mistake is that players don’t know how to create or maintain the correct angles and body flexion (I see many players in very straight positions and others leaning over).
Work on the correct position, and steady yourself with the club shaft.
Try to ensure your shoulders are aimed at the ball as you raise the club.
Take good note of the angles of your legs and back, and try to maintain those angles during the upswing.
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1. Shaft at the centre of your chest, hands in line with the shaft
2. Turn with upper body and hold shot with tee on the grip pointing to the ground
3. Turn back and hold shot with tee on the grip pointing to the ground
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3.- ANGLE OF THE CLUB
It is important that this exercise is included in your practice sessions. It is about being able to work on several things with a single exercise: the length of the swing and the angle of the club's upswing and downswing.
Although I never rule out going deeper into this topic, players with the profile I noted for this lesson only need to work on this aspect.
Place a long tee on the grip of the club (an iron) and try to aim the tee at the ground both when raising the club and at the end of the swing. Repeat this exercise – first with one hand, then with the other – and finish with both, until you control it.
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1. Begin a solid swing using your lower body
2. Practise holding the club on the upswing for two seconds
3. Know what is the lowest point in your practice swing
4. Weight on your left side without losing balance
4.- SPEED AND END OF SWING
The speed of the swing will always be defined by many other factors, both physical and technical, and coordination is the key to everything.
The practice swing, which does not tend to be given much importance, provides us with a lot of information about the speed we are comfortable with and how it is coordinated.
Two tips that once again you should include in your practice routine:
TIMING AND PARTS OF THE SWING
Divide the swing into three parts (swing, impact and culmination). Touch the ground with the club – without moving your feet, only moving the upper part of your body – and hold at the beginning of the upswing for two seconds before continuing to the final point of the swing. This will help you feel where the club is at each moment, so you can note these points for future reference.
SWING COMPLETION
This is the key reference point for knowing if your speed and technique, in general, is good. Always try to aim your shoulders at the target at the end of the swing without losing your balance. If your stability is not good, this will greatly affect your consistency on the course. If you are very inconsistent on the course, control your swing stability.
5.- THE CLUBS YOU USE
My advice is that you talk to your professional before buying clubs. There is no one who can help you more than they can, and they will most certainly be happy to do so.
Talking about clubs would lengthen this article considerably, and that’s not the objective with this lesson, but I will say that each level of a golfer’s game and physical and technical characteristics requires different clubs or shafts. So I strongly recommend that you do not buy clubs without first consulting an expert.